Sotheby’s Australian art sale is next week and Georgina Pemberton is sounding very confident that she can bring in the $9m estimated for the works. Here’s The Australian previewing the sale:

Some of the art on offer has been in private collections since first sale, and has never been auctioned. These include the busts of Trucannini and Woureddy by British sculptor and free settler Benjamin Law from the 1830s, Jeffrey Smart’s The Painted Factory (1972) and Sidney Nolan’s Burke and Wills Expedition (1962).

Pemberton said the crowds at the Sydney showing last week displayed signs of renewed confidence.

“People were actually talking seriously about the works with the specialists, and having serious discussions about the estimates,” she said. “They came with their catalogues marked up. They’ve read it and mean business.”

Nevertheless, she said, the estimates were conservative. “We’re probably back to the 2004-2005 level,” she said. “They are certainly more conservative compared to the past couple of years.”  She estimated 600 people went through the exhibition over the weekend.

Auction Paints a Bright Picture (The Australian)